State access to records; exemption from court-related fees and charges.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the clerk of the circuit court shall, upon request, provide access to public records without charge to the state attorney, public defender, guardian ad litem, public guardian, attorney ad litem, criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and private court-appointed counsel paid by the state, and to authorized staff acting on their behalf. The clerk of court may provide the requested public record in an electronic format in lieu of a paper format if the requesting entity is capable of accessing such public record electronically.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or law to the contrary, judges and those court staff acting on behalf of judges, state attorneys, guardians ad litem, public guardians, attorneys ad litem, court-appointed private counsel, criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, public defenders, and state agencies, while acting in their official capacity, are exempt from all court-related fees and charges assessed by the clerks of the circuit courts.

(3) The exemptions from fees or charges provided in this section apply only to entities listed in subsections (1) and (2), state agencies and state entities, and the party represented by the agency or entity.